(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 26, 1995
Shelbyville area farmers Paul and Judy VanDenBerg lost their lawsuit in Allegan County Circuit Court charging Consumers Power’s electrical service made their dairy herd ill.
This year’s Dahlia Festival is approaching, early next month, including a special hot air balloon rally at the athletic fields across the street from Baker Elementary.
Pat Staley penned a “Soapbox” praising Wayland Schools Administrative Assistant Tom Tarnutzer for handling a forum on sex education. She said he made sure people on both sides of the issue were respectful, unlike similar meetings at Hopkins.
About 75 people attended the forum, where a group of parents asked the Board of Education to adopt an abstinence-only sex education curriculum.
The Wayland City Council approved a plan to expand the Wayland Christian Reformed Church on East Elm Street with a 6,000-square-foot addition.
Marshall Towne, who served as Wayland Mayor from 1972 to 1978, died of pulmonary fibrosis. The was the second mayor after Wayland became a city in 1967, following Phillip Reno. He was 75 years old.
Hopkins Board of Education member Christine Schwartz absorbed a lot of criticism for a letter she sent to the Globe suggesting teachers don’t know how to properly teach phonics.
After dropping its first two contests, new Wayland head coach Cheri Ritz’s softball team has reeled off seven consecutive victories. The Lady Wildcats now will take on a Hopkins team that is undefeated, sparked by the pitching of Toni Newell and Karen Schwartz.
Martin pitcher Jenny Stratton tossed a no-hitter at Saugatuck, walking two and striking out 12.
The Wayland boys’ track team ruined Hopkins’ debut after a 22-year hiatus in a 106-27 rout. A bright spot for the Vikings was a first in both the 100 and 200 sprints by sophomore Todd Frazee. Josh Banner led the Wildcats by winning two events and running a leg on two winning relays.
Greg VanHouten won the long jump and the 800 relay team of Richie Guerrant, Ken Humbarger, Matt Talsma and Mark Garcia took the 800-meter relay, as Martin finished fourth in the Southwest Athletic Conference Relays. The Clippers, though sporting only 11 team members, have won both of their dual meets.
Erin Barrone broke Kathy Oetman’s 1976 Martin school record in the high jump by going one inch better at an even five feet.
50 Years Ago — April 22, 1970
Harry Hudson, a starting guard on Wayland’s state finalist squad in 1955, has been named head varsity basketball coach at Wyoming Rogers after guiding the Golden Hawks to wildly successful freshman and junior varsity seasons.
St. Therese students were preparing folk dance performances to honor Mgr. Adelbert Radowski’s birthday and feast day.
Mrs. A.B. Dangremond, wife of the local dentist, earned her bachelor of science degree at Western Michigan University. A bachelor’s degree in business also was granted to Wayland High School secretary Lorraine Koloseik.
New City Manager John Heffner was to be special guest in the Wayland Chamber of Commerce’s “get acquainted day” at the VFW post at noon Monday, May 4.
Martin school district voters approved a 13-mill renewal request by a count of 167 to 74.
The Wayland City Council adopted a resolution opposing a Michigan Townships Association-backed proposal to make it more difficult for villages and cities to annex township property.
The Wayland, Hopkins and Martin Lions Clubs have reported they collectively have raised about $500 to help 11-year-old Terry Hildebrand of Shelbyville with medical expenses after he was injured in a tractor accident.
Wayland Supt. James Thomas and Board of Education President Wallace Wakeman got a little more adventure than they bargained for when they attended the National School Board Convention in SanFrancisco. The building next door had a four-alarm fire.
Dr. Russell, a graduate of Wayland High School, Albion College and the University of Michigan, died at age 40 in St. Charles, Mo. He was practicing gynecology and obstetrics at the hospital in that community.
Troopers Vance Hoskins and Larry Medendorp are the newest additions to the State Police Post in Wayland.
Major League Baseball ace relief pitcher Phil Regan, a 1955 graduate of Wayland High School, has opened a garden store on Kalamazoo Avenue just north of 44th Street.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Peter Ustinov, Pamela Tiffin and Jonathan Winters in “Viva Max.”
Wayland High School graduate Joe Selzer was on the backup ship in the recovery effort of the Apollo 13 astronauts and spaceship in the Pacific Ocean.
Sgt. Eric Hooker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hooker, has been hospitalized with injuries once again while serving in Vietnam.
Phyllis Thompson, a 1966 graduate of Wayland High School, will present her senior organ recital at Hope College.
Tom Latondress has become the second Wayland High School athlete to win the Japinga Award twice. Ron Kidney also turned the trick in 1963 and 1964.
Southpaw Joe Koperski fired a two-hitter and John Barr clouted a solo homer as Wayland edged Caledonia 1-0.
The Beatles returned to the No. slot in the land with “Let It Be.”
75 Years Ago — April 27, 1945
Amidst rumors swirling that America’s war in the European Theatre is ending soon, two Wayland area soldiers were reported killed in action. One was Pfc. Clifford Hazen, a 1939 Wayland High School graduate, in Luzon in the Pacific. Hazen had been a recipient of the combat infantry badge in New Guinea. The other was John Dolegowski of Dorr, in Manila. He had earned the Bronze Star.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote a feature about Major Bud Malmstone flying 18 patients, two nurses and four crew members to Percy Jones Hospital during his furlough. Malmstone was a decorated pilot during his air campaigns in Germany.
Capt. George Cozzens of Wayland has several tanks under his command with General George Patton’s Third Army, which is pushing into Czechoslavakia.
Staff Sgt. Jay D. Smith was able to use a brief “recess” from aerial warfare in England to visit an Old English Manor House.
Staff Sgt. Joseph Panyrek now is in a Chicago Hospital recovering from leg wounds he suffered in Germany.
Effie Greenawalt was elected president of the Ladies Library Club, succeeding Joanna Kinney. Mildred Smith was chosen first vice president.
The Wayland High School Music Department will perform “The Forest Prince” at the high school auditorium with an orchestra and mixed chorus.
Mac Sim Bar Paper, an Otsego manufacturer of paper board, was advertising for jobs for full- and part-time jobs for men. The firm promised, “Excellent working conditions. Ask the men who work there.”
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Sharyn Moffat, Jill Esmond and Uma O’Connor in “My Pal Wolf.”
- Richard Dix and Janis Carter in “Mark of the Whistler.”
- Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray in “Practically Yours.”
- Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton in “Here Come the Waves.”
100 Years Ago — April 23, 1920
Uriah W. Hoffman, father of triplets and two pairs of twins, 13 children in all, died April 15 at the age of 84. His eldest daughter is 60 and the youngest is 27.
Supt. Floyd Boughner attended a math and science conference at Western Normal in Kalamazoo and used the occasion to shop for prospective teachers for the next academic year. He successfully recruited Rachael Kinstrey of Marshall to teach English and Latin.
Leila Frank provided the music for sophomores Ruth Calkins, Edythe Frank, Roy Jones and Raymond Fox leading the student body in special cheers ahead of the upcoming athletic contests against Hopkins.
Senior class members voted to collect 25 cents from each student to make a contribution to athletic fund instead of having a bake sale or other kind of fund-raiser. The sophomores raised $10 with a candy sale and the freshmen slightly less with a bake sale.
Seventy-five people attended the Friday night community meeting and listened to a presentation by O. L. Goodrich on the advantages of school consolidation.
Flora Nelson gave a presentation on “Progress of Women” to members of the Ladies Library Club.
The Allegan County Board of Supervisors voted to continue paying the Home Demonstration Agent an annual salary of $1,250 and provide a car for business use.
Charles Nelson has purchased the interest in the Wayland Implement Store from William Sowden.
William Miller of Wayland Township, longtime sexton at Elmwood Cemetery, died in Kalamazoo.
The bankrupt Moline Milling Co. had a 30-day hearing in Allegan and was determined to have $20,000 in unsecured debt.
E.S. Allen and Joseph Bowman of Bradley, Charles Ellis and Jacob Haveman of Moline, and David Stockdale and Rollo G. Mosher of Wayland have been chosen as delegates to the Michigan Republican Party state convention.
Mr. C.E. Carr of Hopkins has raised the second largest sum of money in Allegan County, $59.40, to support the Armenians with the Near East Relief package.
COVER PHOTO: Note there were two female members of the Wayland High School Science Club during the 1938-39 academic year.
